OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. The letter states that the three members are also concerned about how Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor and remaining board members are responding to the pandemic. The Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) issued a cease and desist letter to a parent threatening her with a defamation lawsuit for statements she made in public forums about the use and accessibility of age-inappropriate material. Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. "Who in the world would want to be superintendent of a community and work with a school board that is unwilling to listen to all points of view?" Kim Herro, Rick Grothaus and Dan Raasch had been trying to change the boards approach to governance and leadership, which they felt was toxic and made it impossible to collaboratively work on solutions, for over a year. Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. OCONOMOWOC - Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have announced they will be resigning from the board due to the other board members' and the interim superintendents. What a blessing this would be for parents! I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. "Its like, whos the adult here?". 100% remote. Four recall elections were held in 2020. Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach. Since there is no ability to engage in meaningful dialogue, even on the issue of the health and safety of our students and staff, we cannot be part of an organization that is so non-responsive to every constituents concerns, not just a minority segment, and is so cavalier about our students, staffs and communitys health and safety, the letter states. "I have worked on behalf of good government, and am proud of the work I have spearheaded and accomplished in my time on the board," Steitzer stated. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. I was part of that majority. One of our top priorities will be to review and respond to enrollment fluctuations by continuously focusing on investing in our teachers, buildings and curriculum both financially and through policy updates that give autonomy to district leadership. [3][4], The recall effort started after the school board voted 5-2 in August 2020 to approve a blend of virtual and in-person learning for students returning to school for the 2020-2021 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They would be able to go to work that day. Most students perform better when learning in person. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. 2.) [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. [1] The board voted to return all grades to in-person learning starting on September 28, 2020. The meeting schedule for the Finance, Operations, and Advancement (FOA) committee and Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (CIA) committee are available by clicking the link below. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. When I asked, was this pandemic-related? supports HTML5 video. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. I would have run then, but I wanted to make sure that the candidates I supported were elected (they did) and I didnt want to dilute the votes we needed. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. Ford said conflict in school boards isnt a bad thing, but it becomes a problem when people are so dug in on their beliefs that they cant find compromise, or even have productive discussions. "No quality candidate is going to step up and put their reputation on the line when it really comes down to what camp are you in, what team do you play for. I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. U.S. Congress | Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Second, is the unique opportunity to help students pursue their individual passion to a greater extent. "[1], Jason Baumann, a member of the group, said, "We're all concerned parents in the district that are not happy with the way things are going in general with our district, with our school board. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@conleynet.com, Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign, cite toxic board behavior, Cite hyper political, partisan culture as reason for stepping down, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. W359N6812 Brown Street. I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board, Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. If you say, 'I don't want to play for a team, I want what is best for the students,' it won't make a difference because your name is going to be slandered if you're not on the right team. This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. As I stated on the previous question our priorities are financial stability, increasing open enrollment into the district, focusing on the strategic plans, supporting administration and teachers, and selling the old Meadow View. Currently the district consists of a high school serving students in 9th through 12th grades, two intermediate schools for grades 5th through 8th, and five high-performing, family focused . Since September, our board meetings have been productive, we no longer employ consultants to help us get along, we have hired a new superintendent and we were one of the only schools to improve scores during the pandemic by keeping kids in the classroom as much as possible. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. The current board follows a policy and governance model that has helped our district move forward. She said she wished the district had utilized its outdoor space in order to allow all students to return to in-person learning full-time. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. Federal courts | As a board our priorities are driven by our strategic plan and I will continue to support that plan. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". A good number pleading with the board to require masks, few for mask-choice. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. Since being on the board we have been able to begin the process of selling the old Meadow View building, we have hired a new superintendent, and increased student growth during the pandemic. To get the recall on the ballot, recall supporters had to collect signatures from voting-age citizens who lived within the school district in 60 days. Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. I believe that as representatives of the community the board should always have time to hear people out and I appreciate the board making that change now that I am there. Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. Job Openings at Weigel Broadcasting Milwaukee. I started to become interested in the school board position last year during the recall. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School Board appointed three new members in Neal Ninmann, Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel last Wednesday to replace the three board members who had resigned last month. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. My goal is to continue positively contributing to the Oconomowoc Area School District for the benefit of my family, my neighbors and the greater Oconomowoc community. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. Dan Raasch, one of the Oconomowoc board members who resigned, said the group made their decision to quit the board entirely because they didnt feel like they had any options left and they wanted to shock the community into paying attention to the ways he said their school board wasnt working in the communitys best interest. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned. She thanked the three resigning members for the service and the wrote, in part, "Public service is a difficult endeavor that has been exacerbated by the current division in society as a whole" and, "While the timing and orchestrating of these resignations have taken away from our work, I am confident in the remaining school board members and their commitment to our students and families.". I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. What a concept! In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. Covid mitigation methods are what now-former board members expressed concern about in submitting resignation letters this week. Michael Ford, a professor of public administration at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a member of the Oshkosh City Council, said theres a concept called "school board capture" that refers to boards being overtaken by interest groups a union, for example, or particular business interests. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. 2023 www.jsonline.com. Therefore, we choose to no longer be subjected to the negative, noxious effects, especially when we are not allowed to engage in any meaningful work to improve the Board and our schools.. Despite the mass resignation, the letter states the members believes there is enough insulation between the Board and the classroom that teachers can still do good work for kids. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. Roehl'sseat is also up for election April 5. Community involvement: Volunteered at the local parish church, lobbied for street resurfacing and got it done in our neighborhood of Oconomowoc Heights, which was prone to flooding. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. The Oconomowoc School Board asked the district's administration to begin the RFP process for the property in October 2021 and approved listing the property for sale in December 2021. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Were losing some really good people because of the contentiousness, and Im concerned that we may lose some more teachers in the process, or more administrators, that we already know we have a shortage of. some parents who are worried their kids will get sick, clear guidance from state and federal agencies, Children face cognitive delays during pandemic, Arts organizations see signs of recovery, A Milwaukee school is training students to help their peers who are dealing with suicidal thoughts, Why some schools are seeing more fights since returning in-person, Wisconsin districts face backlash over plans to teach gender identity to elementary students, 3 transgender women have been killed in Milwaukee in the last 9 months, Lawyer who oversaw Trump elector scheme in Wisconsin reappointed to judicial advisory panel, Court orders Green Bay to stop using audio devices while lawsuit plays out, UW System President Jay Rothman to seek in-state tuition increase, Capital budget would offload 4 state office buildings, Wisconsin natives aged gouda is 'best cheese' in America, contest says, Landowners sue Lac du Flambeau tribal leaders to reopen roads blocked for a month, Buyer steps up to save Camp Timber-lee in East Troy, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. We hope the time will soon come again when it is possible to work together collaboratively for the good of our community and its children and stop letting the distractions and personal political agendas take us off that course.. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. Because of the contentiousness around COVID-19, Ford said things that would ordinarily fall in that "operational" category are instead being decided at the board level like mask requirements. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. NOW: Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 members NEXT: OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Oconomowoc Area School District Board met Wednesday night, Aug. 18,. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". powered by finalsite About Us Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. My heart sunk. Schmitz:A lady sat next to me on my flight back from a conference in Florida last November and told me she was traveling with a group of five school mothers on a first vacation together since 2020. Oconomowoc Schools The Oconomowoc Area School District encompasses approximately 120 square miles surrounding the City of Oconomowoc and draws students from three counties: Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dodge. School Board Meetings and Agendas Meeting Schedules. Sign up now! questioned one parent. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. The results are not official until they are canvassed. "I had people calling me up and screaming at me, people that have known me almost my whole life, parents calling up and saying 'You are making my kids wear masks, youre doing hybrid, youre bad people,'" she said. "You want conflict on a governing board, it brings more voices to the table and it can lead to a solution that can be supported by even a divided group," he said. Now, nearly half the board is . Then in November, board member Scott Roehl left after moving out of the district and saying in a Facebook post that he and his family did not feel safe in their home. ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. EMAIL. Boiling tensions are exacerbated by the structure of school boards themselves, said Dan Rossmiller, director of government relations at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. An effort to recall three of the seven members of the Oconomowoc Area School District school board in Wisconsin did not go to a vote in 2020. Community involvement:I was a stay-at-home father while my kids were in school, and I was very involved at Meadowview, Nature Hilland Oconomowoc High School. Ballot measures, Who represents me? | The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. The candidates are (top row, left to right):Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right)Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). We need to bring this same level of excellence to the areas that still need improvement to get us there. I want to be their voice on the board and fill the void that exists today by addressing issues that are pressing after a horrific pandemic. I have been an educator for 21 years, the last 16 of them as an administrator, I felt this background would be a benefit to the board and school district. Fortunately, I pray all of that is behind us. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. The district needs to continue moving to unrivaled. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. School board members around the state who supported phased returns to the classroom and disease mitigation efforts like masks and social distancing have faced vitriolic school board meetings, recall attempts, election challenges and threats over the past 18 months. . (920) 474-4812. Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. James Wood took over as the Oconomowoc School Board president following the 2021 election, in which he was elected to a second term after receiving Kleefisch's support. "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. Apply today! She said: Absolutely! Some of the activities include Boy Scouts, robotics, band, choir, theater, soccer, ski team, gymnastics, track, tennis, and we even hosted quite a few exchange students. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Former Oconomowoc School Board members Kim Herro, Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus resigned on the same day, stating the board had "been dragged into partisan culture. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. School districts | The OASD School Board holds a regular monthly meeting on the third Wednesday of each month at the Oconomowoc High Schoo East Campus, starting at 6:30 p.m. >> Click here for the 2021-22 Regular School Board Meeting Schedule OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. Anderson:The main goal for the district should start with retaining our most talented teachers and positioning the Oconomowoc brand as the destination of choice among teachers across the state. "Weve got some young people, students who have gotten up and spoken in front of the board on the importance of being in school face-to-face, and then you have adults who are bullying them and cheering them," he said. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. Black Mental Health Professionals panel discusses representation Technicians of Tomorrow competition showcases high schoolers MATC apologizes for sparking frustration after announcing major Plans to extend Milwaukees downtown metered parking to 9pm Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 members, Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign as board 'dragged into partisan culture wars', Medical Examiner called to fatal shooting near 84th and Bender, Multiple families displaced after fire breaks out in West Allis apartment building, Cars removed from third level of partially collapsed Bayshore Mall parking structure, Long Covid is associated with significantly increased risk of death, heart and lung problems, study finds, Yao Ming caught in the cross-fire as Chinese basketball team leaves top league on eve of Covid reopening, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. The starting point in creating the best school district in the state is through talented teachers, and Im proud to accept the endorsement of the teachers in the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. Kim Kaukl, of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, said he got frustrated watching school board meetings where adults talked about what they thought was best for students, but didnt always listen to the students themselves. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). Schools should be a haven for students, a springboard for each one of them to become the best version of themselves in service to others. I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. Ninmann:100% remain optional for in-person learning. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. The four remaining school board members were in attendance, but no action was taken on one of the items that divided the board -- masks. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. Additionally, we are lacking a significant strategic initiative to address why families who live in our district are actively opting out of keeping their children at our schools. Our actions have an impact. I will continue this trend of performance if electedto the board in April. With a background as a VP of a college and with my current role in senior management at an HNW investment firm I wanted to leverage my professional experience to help our board operate as a high functioning group. Three of the seven seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board in Wisconsin were up for at-large general election on April 3, 2018. DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. PRINT+DIGITAL: AS LOW AS $6.50 PER MONTH. You have permission to edit this article. Nondiscrimination: The Oconomowoc Area School District provides assurance that no student is discriminated against because of the student's sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability.
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